The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-01-14
THE RED ACORN.
BY JOHN M'ELRoY,
Author of "Andersonuiiie," Eta
Copyrighted by National Tribune Publishing CO..
and published by arrangement with them.l
CHAPTER w.

CHAPTER w.
DISGRACE
Harry Glen's perfect self-complaccncy did
not mott feather when the victors returned
to camp flushed with their triumph, which,
in the ewes Of those inexperienced three
months men. had the dimensions of Water
loo. He did not know that in proportion rs
they magnifled their own exploit, SO was the
depth OF their contempt felt for those of their
comrades who had declined to share the
perils and the honors of the expedition with
them. He was too thoroughly satisfied with
himself and his motives to even imagine that
any one could have just cause for complaint
at anything he chose to do.
This kept him from understanding or mp
preciating the force Of the biting innucndoes
and sarcasms which were made to his very
face; and he had stood so aloof from all that
there was nobody who cared to take the
friendly trouble of telling him how free tho
camp conversation was making with his
reputation.
He could not help, however, understanding
that in some way he had lost caste with the
regiment; but he serenely attributed this to
mean-spirited jealousy of the superior ad-
vantages he was enjoying, and it only made
him more anxious for the coming of the time
when he could "cut the whole mob Of beg
gars," as Ned Burnleigh phrased it.
A few days more would end the regiments
term of service, and he readily obtained per-
mission to return home in advance.
The first real blow his confidence received
was when he walked down the one principal
street of Sardis, and was forced to a percep-
ton of the fact that there was an absence Of
that ELUSIVE warmth with which the Sardis
people had ever before welcomed back their
young townsman, of whose good looks and
gentlemanliness they had always been proud.
Now people looked at him in curious way.
They turned to whisper to each other, with
sarcastic smiles and knowing winks as he
came into view, and they did not come for
ward to offer him their hands as of old. It
astonished him that nobody alluded to the
company or to anything that had happened
to it.
Turning at length from the main street, he
entered the lateral one leading to his home.
As he did so, he heard one boy call out to
another, in that piercing treble which boys
employ in making their confidential communi-
cations to one another, across street,
"S-a-y, did you know that Hank Glen'd
got back? And they say he looks pale yet9"
"Has hes" the reply came in high falsetto,
palpably tinged with that fine scorn of a
healthy boy for anything which does not ex-
actly square with his young highness' ideas.
"Come back to his nanny, eli? WE'LL it's
pity she ever let him go away from her.
Hope she'll keep him with her now. He don't
seem to do well out of reach of her apron
strings"
The whole truth flashed upon him. Envious
ones had slandered him at home as a coward.
He walked onward in q furry of rage The
thought that he had done anything to deserve
criticism could not obtrude itself between the
joints of his triplc-plated armor of self-esteem.
A swelling contempt for his village critics
flushed his heart.
"Spiteful, little minded, country boobies"
he said to himself with an impatient Shake Of
his head, as if to adjust his hair, which was
his usual sign of excitement; "they've always
hated me because was above them They
take advantage of the least opportunity to
show their mean jealousy"
After moments pause: "But don't care.
I'd little rather have their dislike than their
good will. It'll save me lot of trouble in
being polite to lot of ours that l despise. |
I'm going to leave this dull little burg any
how, as soon as can getawa I'm going to
Cincinnati, and he with Ned Burnleigh. |
There's more life there in a day than here in |
year. After all there's nobody here that |
care anything for, except father and mother
-and-Rachel."
new train of thought introduced itself at
this tardy remembrance of his betrothed.
His heat abated. He stopped and leaning
against a shady silver maple began anew a
meditation that had occupied his mind very
frequently since that memorable night under
the old apple tree on the hill top.
Ind 70, l,,t -
spiritual exaltation which made that night
the one supreme one in Rachels existence;
when the rapture of gratified pride and love
blended with the radiant moonlight and tho
subtle fragrance of the flowers into sweet
symphony that would well chord with the
song the stars sang together in the morning.
He was denied the intense pleasure that
comes from success, after narrowing doubts
and fears. His unfailing consciousness of his
own worth had left him little doubt that
favorable answer would promptly follow
when he chose to propose to Rachel Bond, or
to an other girl and when this came with the
anticipated readiness, he could not help in the
midst of his qualification at her assent the in
trusion of the disagreeable suspicion that,
peradventure, he had not done the best with
his personal wares that he might. Possibly
there would appear in time some other girl,
whom he might prefer to Rachel, and at all
events there was no necessity for his commit
ting himself when he did, for Rachel "would
have kept" as Ned Burnleigh coarsely put it,
when made the recipient of Harrys conf
dence.
Three months of companionship with Ned
Burnleigh, and daily inhibition of that young
mans stories of his wonderful conquests
among young women of peerless beauty and
exalted social station confirmed this feeling,
and led him to wish for at least such slacken-
ing of the betrothal tether as would permit
excursions into charmed realm like that
where Ned reigned supreme.
For the thousandth time-and in each re-
currence becoming little clearer defined
and more urgent-came the question: I.
"Shall break with Rachel! How can II |.
And what possible excuse can l assign for
itY ,
There came no answer to this save the spurs
with which base self-love was pricking the
sides of his intent, and he recoiled from it.
of himself, it is true, but less
ashar at each renewed consideration Of ,
the query.
He FASTENED home that he might receive q
4. \